In today’s retail media landscape, e-CRM marketing isn’t just about sending emails. Today, e-CRM is all about creating smarter, more personal connections with your audience. By using data thoughtfully, brands can deliver messages that truly resonate with the right people at the right time. But what really drives performance?
In this Deep Dive, we look at what makes an e-CRM campaign perform - and how we make it happen. From subject lines that boost open rates to flash deals that drive clicks, and gamification that engage customers, we apply proven strategies to craft high-impact email campaigns for our clients. Here's a look at what we focus on - and why it works.
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Open Rates: The First Impression Counts
Your subject line might be clever—but if it doesn’t spark curiosity or relevance, it won’t get opened. Our subject lines are designed to grab attention and the message resonates with your audience.
Here’s how to do it:
- Keep subject lines short and to the point - Subject lines that are too long don’t click. Make every word count.
- Highlight the customer benefit upfront - Make it immediately clear what’s in it for them, driving stronger open rates.
- Use prizes to spark curiosity in Gamification campaigns - When there’s a chance to win, say so—right in the subject line.
- Match niche products with segmented audiences - Relevance is everything. Tailor messages to the right audience to maximize impact.
Click-Through Rates (CTR): From opening to Action
Getting an email opened is just the start - getting clicked is where the real engagement begins. We design our client campaigns to convert interest into action, using smart content and layout strategies to boost click-through rates.
Here’s how to do it:
- Make CTAs clear and actionable - Whether it’s “Buy Now” or “Get My Flash Deal,” design CTAs that encourage specific customer actions like getting an e-deal for a specific product or registering to a game, which significantly improve click-through rates.
- Use standout visuals and test what works - Buttons and design elements are built to catch the eye, and by running A/B tests to see exactly where customers click, you can optimize for more.
- Boost interaction with games and flash e-deals - These formats consistently increase engagement in MMD campaigns, giving customers a reason to click - and come back.
- With flash e-deals, Free product offers naturally drive higher activation rates. However, we’ve found that rewards in points tend to outperform percentage discounts, offering better long-term engagement and perceived value for customers.
- Segment smartly - Relevant messages to the right audience always perform better—and make sure they land where they should.
- Know that innovations need more than just an email - Launching a new product? We recommend building awareness through a broader omnichannel approach to support visibility and performance.
Gamification: drive strong engagement through customer participation
We see consistently strong customer engagement with games, and the experience continues to improve each year thanks to feedback from both customers and our qualified CRM team. Choosing the right game format should align closely with your marketing goals - for example, quizzes are excellent for driving engagement and awareness, while formats like jackpots are more effective at generating sales or reinforcing loyalty.
Think about your Gamification Strategy:
The complexity and entry conditions of a game should always match the value of the reward. There’s little benefit in asking users to complete a complicated flow if the only incentive is a small discount or coupon. Different game formats serve different objectives:
- Games without purchase conditions attract a larger audience and generate high awareness, making them ideal for recruitment.
- “Play & Buy” games are a great sales booster and help you build awareness.
- “Reward Challenge” games are excellent for loyalty initiatives.
- Games with restricted access are generally not recommended unless the prize is highly attractive and exclusive, as the barrier to entry tends to limit participation.
2024 Campaign Benchmarks: what success looks like!
Our e-CRM campaigns in 2024 demonstrate the impact of strategic execution:
- Average Open Rate: 37%
- Average Click-Through Rate (CTR): 1.60%
- Game Campaigns CTR: 2.87%
- Flash e-Deal CTR: 1.84% Flash e-Deal Redemption Rate: 18%
- Flash e-Deal Full Activation Rate: 4%
These results stem from meticulous planning, audience insights, and continuous optimization.